HC Deb 28 June 1989 vol 155 cc481-2W
17. Mr. Dunn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take measures to penalise local authorities which are inefficient in processing council house sale applications.

31. Sir George Young

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he implemented the provision in the Housing Act 1988 for council tenants to set aside rent against mortgage payments in the event of delays by councils in processing their applications to buy their homes.

48. Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to speed up the processing of council house sale applications.

51. Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he implemented the provision in the Housing Act 1988 for council tenants to set aside rent against mortgage payments in the event of delays by councils in processing their applications to buy their homes.

60. Sir Hal Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take measures to penalise local authorities which are inefficient in processing council house sale applications.

Mr. Robert G. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to speed up the processing of council house sale applications.

Mr. Trippier

As I announced in my answer of 10 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) at column699, section 124 of the Housing Act 1988 came into force on that date. It enables tenants whose applications are delayed by the landlord to have rent payments set against the purchase price of their homes.

68. Mr. Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in England since May 1979.

Mr. Trippier

From April 1979 to March 1989 about 1,040,000 tenants bought their homes from English local authorities and new towns.

41. Mr. Gow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to extend the opportunities of council tenants to become owner-occupiers.

Mr. Trippier

I refer to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 24 May at columns591–92.